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Support Policy Solutions
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For fifty-plus years, Riverkeeper has been the Hudson River Estuary’s chief law enforcer when it comes to safeguarding our water and waterways. We work to strengthen the laws and regulations that impact New York’s water resources. We collaborate with coalitions and partners statewide on critical issues involving water pollution, clean energy, watershed preservation and more.
Since the mid-1960s, Riverkeeper has spearheaded policy initiatives that protect wetlands and habitat, improve nuclear oversight, increase and secure green funding, and encourage smart energy use and production in New York State. Strong environmental policy is one of the best tools we have, we work hard to garner support for legislation created to protect our Hudson River, its tributaries, our watershed, wetlands and surrounding communities.
Below you will find information, the current status of legislation and ways to contact your representatives on policies Riverkeeper has determined important to change and legislation we oppose and support.
Want to know the basics of New York State’s legislative process? Learn more here. Please see this guide for the budget process due each year on April 1st.
Find your member of the Assembly here >
Find your State Senator here >
Contact Governor Kathy Hochul here >
Find Riverkeeper’s archive of 2020’s state budget & legislative memoranda here >
| Bill Information & Summary | Riverkeeper position | Status | Information | Take Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York State 2021 budget Governor's 2021-2022 Executive Budget Proposal | Governor's executive budget was released and state legislative hearings on the executive budget have concluded. 2/8/2021. | Read Riverkeeper Budget Memorandum Read Riverkeeper Environmental Conservation SFY-21-22 Budget Testimony | ||
| Clean Water Protection | ||||
| Defining Wetland Classification S5116C/A7850 (Harckham/Englebright) | Riverkeeper Supports | Passed in the Senate (6/8/2021) and delivered to the Environmental Conservation Committee in Assembly. (6/8/2021). 6/8/2021. | Read Riverkeeper Policy Memorandum | |
| Wetlands Protection Act S2979/A8042 (Harckham/Englebright) | Riverkeeper Supports | Currently in Senate Environmental Conservation Committee (1/26/2021) and referred to Environmental Conservation in Assembly (6/10/2021). 6/11/2021. | Read Riverkeeper Policy Memorandum | |
| Protect NY's Streams S4162/A6652 (Harckham/Englebright) | Riverkeeper Supports | Currently reported and committed to the Senate Finance Committee (3/16/2021) and advanced to the third reading in the Assembly Ways and Means Committee (5/13/2021). 5/13/2021 | Read Riverkeeper Policy Memorandum | |
| Oyster Shell Tax Credit S4741/A258 (Kaminsky/Rosenthal L) | Riverkeeper Supports | Currently in Senate Budget and Revenue Committee (2/10/2021) and the Assembly Ways and Means Committee (1/6/2021). 2/11/2021. | Read Riverkeeper Policy Memorandum | |
| Private Well Water Testing S48 (Hoylman) | Riverkeeper Supports | Currently in Senate Environmental Conservation Committee (1/6/2021) with no Assembly same as. 2/9/2021. | Read Riverkeeper Policy Memorandum | |
| Expanding List of Emerging Contaminants S1759A/A126A (Skoufis/Gottfried) | Riverkeeper Supports | Passed the Assembly (6/8/2021) and passed in the Senate (6/8/2021). Awaiting Governor's signature. 6/11/2021. | Read Riverkeeper Policy Memorandum | |
| Reducing East of Hudson Drinking Watershed Road Salt Contamination S6322A/A4067A (Harckham/Abinanti) | Riverkeeper Supports | Passed the Senate (6/9/2021) and referred the to Transportation Committee in Assembly (6/9/2021). 6/11/2021. | Read Riverkeeper Policy Memorandum | |
| Chemicals and Pesticides | ||||
| Coal Tar Sealant Ban S4095B/A518A (Sanders/Rosenthal L.) | Riverkeeper Supports | Passed in the Senate and the Assembly (6/2/2021). Awaiting Governor's signature. | Read Riverkeeper Policy Memorandum USGS Fact Sheet on Coal Tar | |
| Birds and Bees Protection Act/Neonicotinoid pesticide moratorium S699B/A7429 (Hoylman/Englebright) | Riverkeeper Supports | Passed in the Senate (6/8/2021) and referred to the Environmental Conservation Committee in the Assembly (5/7/2021). 6/11/2021. | Read Riverkeeper Policy Memorandum NY Neonic Fact Sheet Setting the record straight on the Birds and Bees Protection Act Top 5 myths about the Birds and Bees Protection Act | |
| Environmental Law and Litigation | ||||
| Citizen Suits for Environmental Conservation Laws S5394/A2261 (Parker/Simon) | Riverkeeper Supports | Currently advanced to its third reading in Assembly (3/25/2021) and referred to Senate Environmental Conservation Committee (3/3/2021). 3/26/2021. | Read Riverkeeper Policy Memorandum | |
| Fixing SEQRA Standing S02798/A3510 (Kavanagh/O'Donnell) | Riverkeeper Supports | Currently in Senate Environmental Conservation Committee (1/25/2021) and referred to Assembly Environmental Conservation Committee (1/27/2021). 2/9/2021. | Read Riverkeeper Policy Memorandum SEQRA Standing Timeline and Summary of Cases SEQRA Standing Reform FAQ | |
| Equitable Siting for NY S1031B/A2103A (Stewart-Cousins/Pretlow) | Riverkeeper Supports | Passed in Senate (3/3/2021) and currently in the Assembly Environmental Conservation Committee (2/8/2021). 3/8/2021. | Read Riverkeeper Policy Memorandum | |
| Creating a Public Participation Plan for EJ Communities S3211A/A6530 (Ramos/Barnwell) | Riverkeeper Supports | Passed in the Senate (3/3/2021) and referred to the Assembly Environmental Conservation Committee (3/19/2021). 5/19/2021. | Memo of support is forthcoming. | |
| Plastics, Recycling, and Promoting a Circular Economy | ||||
| Single Use Hotel Bottle Ban S543/A5082 (Kaminsky/Englebright) | Riverkeeper Supports | Passed in the Senate (4/26/2021) and passed in the Assembly (4/26/2021). Awaiting Governor's signature. | Read Riverkeeper Policy Memorandum | |
| Straws By Request S1505/A207 (Hoylman/Rosenthal L.) | Riverkeeper Supports | Currently in Senate Environmental Conservation Committee (1/12/2021) and report referred to Assembly Rules Committee (5/19/2021). 5/25/2021. | Read Riverkeeper Policy Memorandum | |
| Prohibition of the use of plastic beverage container packaging. S486/A922 (Krueger/Paulin) | Riverkeeper Supports | Currently in Senate Environmental Conservation Committee (1/6/2021) and Assembly Environmental Conservation Committee (1/6/2021). 3/19/2021. | Read Riverkeeper Policy Memorandum | |
| Energy | ||||
| Clean Futures Act A6761A/S5939A (Mamdani/Ramos) | Riverkeeper Supports | Currently amended and recommitted to the Energy Committee in Assembly (5/6/2021) and recommitted in the Energy and Telecommunications Committee in the Senate (5/4/2021). 5/6/2021. | Read Riverkeeper Policy Memorandum | |
| Ban on Fracking Waste A903/S355 (O'Donnell/Hoylman) | Riverkeeper Supports | Passed Assembly (4/20/2021) and passed in the Senate (4/20/2021). Awaiting Governor's signature. | Read Riverkeeper Policy Memorandum | |
| Legislation Riverkeeper Opposes | ||||
| Healthy Cold Water Fisheries Act A6136/S4083 (Woerner/Hinchey) | Riverkeeper Opposes | Currently in Assembly Environmental Conservation Committee (3/10/2021) and Senate Environmental Conservation Committee (2/2/2021). 3/11/2021. | Read Riverkeeper Policy Memorandum | |
| NY Seawall Study Commission A5557S7141 (Barnwell/Addabbo) | Riverkeeper Opposes | Currently reported to the Assembly in Ways and Means Committee (5/20/2021) and the Senate in Rules Committee (6/2/2021). 6/7/2021. | Read Riverkeeper Policy Memorandum | |
